What is apple spice

What Is Allspice?

Uses, Benefits, Recipes

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Allspice is a spice made from the dried berries of a plant known as Pimenta dioica, which is a member of the myrtle family. The flavor of allspice brings to mind cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and pepper. Allspice is used in Caribbean, Middle Eastern, and Latin American cuisines, among others. The versatile seasoning can be used to flavor desserts, side dishes, main courses, and beverages, including mulled wine and hot cider.

What Is Allspice?

The name might suggest it is a blend, but allspice is a single spice made from dried berries of the allspice tree which look like peppercorns. The allspice tree is native to Jamaica, and it is also known as Jamaica pepper and new spice. It was documented by Christopher Columbus during his second voyage to the New World and named by Dr. Diego Chanca. The Europeans thought it combined the flavors of several spices and they introduced it into European and Mediterranean cuisines.

Whole vs. Ground

Allspice can be used in ground form or whole. Once ground, allspice quickly can lose its pungency. Ground spices are more intense than whole cloves or berries. Whole allspice berries are sometimes used in stews and soups, and for pickling and brining. You will certainly have better success using the ground version in desserts, such as pumpkin cake or pie, spice cakes, and gingerbread.

What Does It Taste Like?

Allspice combines the flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and pepper. It can be used for many purposes that those warm spices are used, or as a substitute for them.

Cooking and Baking With Allspice

Allspice is used both in cooking and in baking. Whole allspice berries can be added to meat such as beef or lamb, as you would slivers of garlic or whole cloves. If you want to tame the berries a bit, cook them before you use them as seasoning. You can bake them for 10 minutes or heat them in a cast-iron skillet on the stovetop. Ground allspice is used to season meat, soup, stew, vegetables, and baked goods as you would use ground nutmeg, cinnamon, or cloves. It will usually be added at the beginning of cooking or baking.

Recipes With Allspice

The Mediterranean taste of allspice shines in Cincinnati-style chili, which is a meat sauce that goes well on spaghetti or as a topping for coney dogs. Allspice is also one of the key ingredients in the marinade for Jamaican jerk chicken. Adding a scant 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon over string beans, carrots, cabbage, or mushrooms will give vegetables a spiced flavor.

Substitutions for Allspice

If a recipe calls for allspice and you don’t have any, you could mix up a substitute by combining equal parts ground cloves, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg. Conversely, if you don’t have nutmeg, cloves, or cinnamon on hand, use allspice instead.

If you want to substitute ground allspice for whole allspice berries, or vice versa, the conversion is six whole allspice berries is the equivalent of 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of ground allspice. If you are adding the whole berries to a soup or stew in place of ground allspice, remove them before eating.

Grinding the allspice berries in a spice grinder to yield the required amount is a better substitution. Freshly ground allspice will have more flavor than pre-ground allspice, so you may find you need to adjust the amount added to a recipe.

Uses of Allspice

The berries of the allspice tree are not the only useful part of it. The fresh leaves can give an infused flavor to dishes (like a bay leaf). The wood is used to smoke meat and sausages.

Where to Buy Allspice

Allspice is sold along with other spices in the spice section of most grocery stores. You can readily find it packaged by major spice brands in both whole and ground form.

Storage

Keep your allspice fresh and ready to use by storing it in an airtight jar or another container away from direct sunlight. There’s no need to freeze or refrigerate it. Allspice will last for years whether whole or ground, although ground spices lose their flavor quickly.

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Apple Pie Spice

Spices such as cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cardamom come together in this easy homemade Apple Pie Spice. This warm and comforting spice blend can be used for so much more than just apple pie!

I know that many of us equate fall with pumpkin spice everything. From lattes and sweet potato chips to home fragrances, it seems like everything has a pumpkin spice twist these days.

And I’m the first to say bring it on. Unless it’s something a little strange like pumpkin spice hummus, then it’s a hard pass.

Even though I am totally team pumpkin pie spice, I’ve been pretty fond of this homemade apple pie spice for years now.

It’s a deliciously festive blend of spices that’s perfect for any fall-inspired baked good. It’s also pretty amazing as a topping for your morning oatmeal, a frothy latte, or mixing with sugar for the ultimate cinnamon toast!

WHAT IS IN APPLE PIE SPICE?

I’m pretty much a self-professed spice hoarder, so Penzey’s makes almost as happy as Nordstrom does. Seriously, it’s pretty close.

So any time I stumble across a recipe that calls for a special spice blend, my first thought is if I have what I need to make it myself.

The answer to that is almost always yes. From pumpkin pie spice and chai spice blend to homemade taco seasoning, I have made plenty of my own spice blends over the years.

As soon as the air turns crisp and the leaves start to turn, I get into serious fall baking mode and often encounter recipes that call for “apple pie spice.”

But what really is apple pie spice?

Most of these blends include cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice and cardamom. So that’s what I used here!

By making your own spice blends, you can tweak the amounts and customize the blend to meet your taste.

Love cardamom? Add a little more in. I promise – you really can’t mess it up!

HOW TO USE APPLE PIE SPICE

I love throwing this blend into apple pie (of course) or even apple pie bars, but it’s also great in any dessert or breakfast that you want to add a little bit of warmth and depth to.

I like to store my spice blends in Weck jars or small mason jars, but really, any jar or bottle will do. You can even wash, dry and reuse old spice jars, making it even more economical!

If you’re crafty, I think a cute label and a little twine could make this homemade mix the perfect little gift for fall. Couple the spice blend with a basket of freshly picked apples and you have a great holiday gift for neighbors, co-workers, friends and family.

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Home » Cooking Tips » Substitute for Apple Pie Spice

Substitute for Apple Pie Spice

Making pies and tarts is fun, especially when you’re fond of experimenting with flavors. But we all know that apple pie spice offers a taste blend that’s quite like no other. Its myriad of flavors compliments the sweetness of the apple pies and is also highly appreciated in many other sweet pastries.

Still, we tend to run out of our most favorite spice mixes, and if yours is apple pie spice, then you’re not left out. So, you’ll need to master the best ways to replicate its flavor in your favorite recipes so you’re not left hanging. It’s why this list of substitute spices comes in handy, as you’ll be able to pick quick-fix replacements in your time of need.

Apple Pie Spice Nutrition Facts

What is Apple Pie Spice?

Apple pie spice is mainly composed of a combination of commonly found ingredients on our racks. The main ingredients in most commercially sold bottles and jars include cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and sometimes cardamom. Some varieties may be available that have other spices like cloves, ginger, or other spice options.

Apple Pie Spice in Recipes

Apple pie spice offers a combo of sweet, warm, and earthy flavours that lift the taste of many sweet dishes. It’s no wonder it’s paired with many recipes with such a flavour profile, as its presence adds a lift to the ingredients of this nature. As such, you’ll find apple pie spice as a welcome addition to grains, fruity desserts, and toppings for sugary dishes. And it’s a splendid way to add warmth to meats and drinks, thanks to its nutmeg and allspice content.

Because the apple pie spice also contains traces of other ingredients, many recipes include it solely for the purpose. It’s also a common addition to Mediterranean dishes and features significantly in Moroccan meals. Whichever way it’s employed, you’re sure to find the spice blend in recipes such as;

• Whipped cream
• Yoghurt
• Oatmeal
• Porridge
• Rice Pilaf
• Muffins
• Meat recipes
• Cocktails
• Salads
• Spiced nuts
• Roasted vegetables
• Scones
• Cakes
• Spiced fruits
• Beef ribs
• Pies
• Tarts
• Quick bread
• Ice cream
• Snickerdoodles
• Cookies
• Coffees, lattes, and cappuccinos
• Buttered rum cider
• popcorn
• Smoothies
• Spiced maple syrup
• Waffles
• French Toast Casserole
• French toast
• Pancakes
• Apple cider
• Roasted sweet potatoes
• Granola

Apple Pie Spice Substitute

Most times, apple pie spice is sold as a separate ingredient in grocery stores and spice shops. And though it’s a convenient way to add the right amount of flavour to your tarts and pies, it’s not always economical. Even if you favour it over mixing a batch yourself, you may run out of supply sometimes. And in such cases, it helps to know how to whip up a suitable alternative quickly.

Homemade Apple Pie Spice

If you want the closest flavour copy of a store-bought apple pie spice, the best option is to make a batch of it at home. And since it’s mostly made of cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg, you can quickly whip it up in your kitchen. To prepare one teaspoon of homemade apple pie spice, combine ½ teaspoon of cinnamon with 1/8 teaspoon of ground nutmeg and allspice. You can also toss a dash of ginger, cloves, or cardamom to create a flavour pattern that suits your needs. Whatever you do, this homemade apple pie spice substitute works as an equal replacement in all recipes.

Pumpkin Pie Spice

Pumpkin pie spice contains most of the ingredients in apple pie spice, with the sole difference that it always includes cloves. But it still makes an ideal substitute for apple pie spice in most recipes. The spice mix will add the same amount of earthiness, warmth, and sweetness to cakes, pastries, meats, cookies, and other recipes that call for apple pie spice. But you may note the flavour of cloves surfacing in your recipe, so add a bit of ground cinnamon to mask it if you wish.

Chinese Five Star Spice Powder

Though this ingredient indicates it’s made of five spices, it tends to contain more than that. But Chinese Five Star spice combines items like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, which are primarily found in apple pie spice. Plus, the extra star anise features a slightly spicy flavor that matches well with apple pie. But you may worry about the additional ingredients in this spice blend like turmeric and Sichuan pepper, so in such cases, an extra dash of cinnamon will solve it.

Cinnamon and Nutmeg

Since the primary ingredient, most people seek in apple pie spice is cinnamon, you can use it as a standalone substitute ingredient. But if you miss the earthiness from the blend, add a dash of ground nutmeg to the mix. But make sure that the quantity of cinnamon surpasses the nutmeg by about half when you do. And with this combination, you can substitute for apple pie spice in most desserts and toppings.

Cinnamon and Ginger

Combining cinnamon and ginger powder can give you a decent alternative to apple pie spice. And since ginger is renowned for its warm flavour, it combines with the sweet notes of cinnamon to work in baked goods, meat recipes, toppings, cakes, pies, and tarts. But ensure that the cinnamon is about half more than the ginger powder, so the final blend doesn’t come out too hot.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is apple pie spice the same as pumpkin pie spice?

A: Both spice mixes contain the same spices, namely cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg. But while apple pie spice also has cardamom sometimes, pumpkin spice never does. Also, pumpkin spice tends to include cloves, while apple pie spice barely does.

Are apple pie spice and allspice the same thing?

No, they aren’t. Apple pie spice tends to contain many ingredients, including allspice. But allspice comprises a single component that carries familiar flavours that remind you of nutmegs, black pepper, cinnamon, and clove.

What savoury spices go with apples?

Apples tend to blend with spices that accent their sweet flavor. As such, common pairings include cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and anise seed.

Conclusion

Running out of apple pie spice doesn’t have to mean the end of your recipe. Any of these suggested substitutes will make a suitable replacement in your numerous dishes. As the spice itself is made from a combination of most of them, they make an even cheaper alternative in most cases. Plus, you’ll be sure to have a solution for such situations any time you need it.

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